Khartoum: It will be a miracle if Sudan's southern referendum on independence takes place on time, the head of the commission planning the vote — which is expected to divide Africa' s largest country — said on Thursday.
Mohammad Ebrahim Khalil told reporters the timetable was very tight and announced a delay of one day for voter registration, which will now begin on November 15.
He said the commission had received no funds from the UN Development Programme to finance the vote, although the UNDP has said it has provided more than $7 million (Dh25.7 million) for the project.
"Holding the referendum on time will need a miracle because of the difficulties and tight timeline," he said, adding that the commission was meeting new obstacles daily as it struggled to hold the vote on January 9, 2011.
"Our plan is to open the registration centres on November 15 — the one-day delay is because we expected the materials to arrive in Khartoum on October 23 but they were delayed by one day."
Sudan's northern defence minister said earlier this month that the vote might have to be delayed because of logistical problems.
